DETAILS
PRODUCT HiFi Rose RA180
ORIGIN South Korea
TYPE Integrated amplifier
WEIGHT 16.7kg
DIMENSIONS (WxHxD) 430 x 110 x 350mm
FEATURES
● Claimed power output: 4x 200W (8ohm)
● Inputs: 3x RCA line-level; balanced XLR; MM/MC phono stage
● Outputs: subwoofer; 16x 4mm speaker binding posts
DISTRIBUTOR Henley Audio Ltd.
WEBSITE hifirose.com henleyaudio.co.uk
Say what you will about HiFi Rose, the fledgling brand hailing from Seoul in South Korea, it sure knows how to capture the attention of audiophiles. First by launching a range of remarkable do-it-all streaming players featuring huge touchscreens and options galore, and now this 'steampunk' integrated amplifier, which left internet forums speechless for about 15 seconds. Quite an achievement in this day and age... and those pundits hadn't even seen the baffling rear of the RA180 with its 16 loudspeaker terminals!
But unlikely as it seems, the slick RS150 (HFC 477) network player, with its massive 14-in display, and this brand-new all-analogue RA180 amplifier both share a common denominator. The giveaway is the 17 buttons, knobs and sliders on the front fascia, together with some VU meters and cogs thrown in for good measure. Whatever industrial design eccentricities HiFi Rose might embrace, the brand is all about offering a multitude of features and functions. However, with its £5,500 price tag, the RA180 also marks a significant move upmarket.
Class of its own
This story is from the August 2022 edition of Hi-Fi Choice.
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This story is from the August 2022 edition of Hi-Fi Choice.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 8,500+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber? Sign In
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